Nigerian-born Badenoch becomes first black leader of British major party

The British former trade secretary, Kemi Badenoch, was elected the new leader of the Conservative Party on Saturday.

The Nigerian-born lawyer polled 53,806 votes to defeat Robert Jenrick, who garnered 41,388 votes in the poll.

With the feat, Badenoch has succeeded former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as leader of the British opposition party.

She also became the first black person to lead a major party in the United Kingdom.

Badenoch was defeated in the fourth round of voting in the quest for the Conservative Party leadership in 2022.

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In her remark after she was announced as the winner of the election, the 44-year-old said the party must set pledges that appeal to the British people before the next election.

She said: “We have to be honest – honest about the fact that we made mistakes, honest about the fact that we let standards slip. The time has come to tell the truth.

“The task that stands before us is tough but simple. Our first responsibility as His Majesty’s loyal opposition is to hold this Labour government to account.

“Our second is no less important. It is to prepare over the next few years for the government to ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them, a clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.”

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